Watch highlights from the 26th annual White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch which was held at the Beall-Washington House in Georgetown on Saturday, April 27, 2019.

This year’s event honored active duty and retired military members and their families. We also celebrated journalism and our First Amendment rights.

What started as a backyard tradition by WHC Insider’s Tammy Haddad has become a much-anticipated event to kick-off the day. In addition to Haddad, this year’s co-hosts included Hilary Rosen, Jean and Steve Case, Mark & Sally Ein, Jennifer Dunn, Zac Moffatt, Greta Van Susteren & John Coale, Fritz Brogan, and Franco Nuschese.

Following are highlights of media coverage of the 26th Annual White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch, hosted on Saturday, April 27 at the Beall-Washington House in Georgetown.

Washington Post: No president, no celebs, no problem: The White House correspondents’ dinner crowd parties on
“You would call it a ban, wouldn’t you?” (Kellyanne Conway) asked, reflexively slipping into media-critic mode. The president didn’t mean that no one who works for him could attend parties, she explained, just not the dinner. “Besides, they’re our neighbors!” she said of the Bradleys, who live in embassy-heavy Observatory Circle. “I couldn’t be rude!” So Conway was free to mix it up with Adrienne Arsht and other A-listers under the lovely tent in her neighbor’s backyard. The next day, she appeared again at the A-list pre-party known as the Garden Brunch wearing a butterfly-printed romper, breezing past Jay Leno to air-kiss Greta Van Susteren.”

The Hill: Rod Rosenstein, Jay Leno chat at correspondents’ weekend brunch
“At the brunch bash, Leno surprised U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Angela Morales-Biggs with some new wheels. The Purple Heart recipient asked if Leno was joking when he presented her the keys to a new Nissan Pathfinder — a gift sponsored by Wells Fargo and Jones Junction auto group. “No, you think I’m a comedian that I’m joking?” Leno exclaimed to Morales-Biggs.”

New York Times: Perspective, Not Parody, at a Subdued Correspondents’ Dinner
“Once a high point of the Washington social calendar, the dinner has lost some of its glamour since Mr. Trump came to town…At a charity brunch on Saturday hosted by the Washington doyenne Tammy Haddad, Jay Leno was the featured guest — and even he seemed unimpressed. “We’ve pretty much reached the bottom of the barrel here,” the former “Tonight Show” host quipped of his appearance.”

POLITICO Playbook: Inside the WHCD weekend
“SPOTTED at the Garden Brunch at the Beall-Washington house Saturday morning, part of the White House Correspondents Dinner weekend, which celebrates the First Amendment, the Washington press corps and the job of D.C. journalists: Kellyanne Conway, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Rudy Giuliani.”

The 26th Annual White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch honored U.S. military service members and their families on Saturday, April 27, 2019.

What started as a backyard tradition by WHC Insider’s Tammy Haddad has become a much-anticipated event to kick-off the day. In addition to Haddad, this year’s co-hosts included Hilary Rosen, Jean and Steve Case, Mark & Sally Ein, Jennifer Dunn, Zac Moffatt, Greta Van Susteren & John Coale, Fritz Brogan, and Franco Nuschese.

Earlier today, Jay Leno spoke to whcinsider.com about hosting the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner over the years, including a funny backstage story about his first time at the dinner during Ronald Reagan’s presidency.

Leno was a special guest at the 2019 WHC Garden Brunch on Saturday, April 27, 2019, where he presented the Champions of Freedom Award to U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Angela Morales-Biggs.

Leno has entertained White House Correspondents’ Dinner attendees four times since 1987, hosting more times than any other individual in the dinner’s history.

President Donald Trump won’t be attending the White House Correspondents Dinner for the third year in a row. He also instructed White House officials to not attend the annual event, but that didn’t stop a few of them from enjoying pre-dinner festivities.

Rod Rosenstein, Rudy Giuliani and Kellyanne Conway were spotted this year’s WHC Garden Brunch at the Beall-Washington House in Georgetown, where they joined other brunch guests in honoring military service members and veterans.

Conway spoke about the importance of supporting our military service members and why events like the Garden Brunch are good for raising awareness about veterans’ issues.

In discussing the Be Fearless Award that was presented to U.S. Army Lt. General Gwen Bingham, Conway also commented on what being fearless has meant in her career.

President Trump will attend a re-election campaign rally with supporters in Green Bay, Wisconsin on Saturday night while the White House Correspondents Dinner is taking place in Washington, D.C.

Comic legend Jay Leno was on hand at the 2019 White House Correspondents Garden Brunch to help honor military heroes and veterans. In partnership with Wells Fargo and the Military Warriors Support Foundation, Leno surprised Purple Heart recipient, U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Angela Morales-Biggs of Manassas, Virginia with the WHC Garden Brunch Champions of Freedom Award and the keys to a brand new, payment-free Nissan Pathfinder from Jones Junction Auto Group.

Leno said, “my mom always said you should bring something – a covered dish or dessert – but I like cars. So we’re going to give you a new Nissan Pathfinder. Did you see the red one out there? That’s yours!” Leno invited Morales-Biggs’ daughter to come up on the stage to help present the car keys to her mother.

As a self-described “Air Force Brat,” Morales-Biggs lived all over the world while she was growing up. She is third generation U.S. Air Force, joining right after high school. She became a flight medic and later a combat medic. Morales-Biggs has more than 20 years of service and has been stationed all over the United States, Italy, Turkey, Korea and Afghanistan. She was injured in a combat situation and received the Purple Heart. She also received the Combat Medic Badge and is recommended to receive the Air Force Combat Action Medal.

Morales-Biggs is in the process of retiring from the Air Force and currently lives in Manassas, Virginia with her husband, Ralph, and their two children plus another baby boy on the way. She is working toward a bachelor’s degree in psychology from American Military University and plans to become a mental health counselor.

Andrea Dellinger from the Military Warriors Support Foundation and Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Quinn, Wells Fargo’s Head of Military & Veteran Initiatives, also participated in the award presentation.

The Military Warriors Support Foundations’ Transportation4Heroes program provides payment-free vehicles, family and financial mentorship to help veterans successfully transition from the military to civilian life.

Watch our live feed from the 2019 White House Correspondents Garden Brunch via Twitter @WHCInsider! Guest arrivals start at 11am ET and the stage program at approximately 12:15 pm ET. Join the conversation on social media using #GardenBrunch.

Special guest Jay Leno will join White House Correspondents Garden Brunch hosts and guests on Saturday, April 27, 2019 to honor veterans and present a Purple Heart recipient with the WHC Garden Brunch “Champions of Freedom” Award in a presentation sponsored by Wells Fargo and Military Warriors Support Foundation.

Many veterans have challenges when transitioning to civilian life, and the Military Warriors Support Foundation aims make that transition a bit easier. The organization provides mortgage-free homes and payment-free vehicles to our nation’s combat wounded heroes and Gold Star families.

Jay Leno is no stranger to White House Correspondents’ Weekend festivities. He has previously headlined the annual WHCA dinner on multiple occasions over the past three decades, and the Garden Brunch hosts are excited to have him as part of the program this year.

Andrea Dellinger from the Military Warriors Support Foundation and Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Quinn, Wells Fargo’s Head of Military & Veteran Initiatives, will also be part of the award ceremony.

You can watch this special presentation live via Twitter @whcinsider starting at 12:15 pm ET.

Steve Case, Tammy Haddad, Jean Case, Kara Swisher, Hilary Rosen and José Andrés at a book release party for “Be Fearless” in January 2019

Over the past several years, the White House Correspondents Garden Brunch has recognized active duty members of the military, veterans, and military families to thank them for their service and to put names and faces to the stories that journalists cover.

Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundation and Chairman of the National Geographic Society, has shared her advice on how to be successful in her national bestselling book, “Be Fearless,” and at the 2019 Garden Brunch, she – alongside the other brunch cohosts – will recognize U.S. Army Lieutenant General Gwendolyn Bingham with the WHC Garden Brunch “Be Fearless” Award.

Bingham has served our country for more than 30 years. She has worked in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom and has served in more than 20 countries. She has also broken a lot of barriers along the way. Bingham is one of the few 3-star female general offices in U.S. Army history, and she is the recipient of numerous campaign and service medals.

For her distinguished service to our country, and her tireless efforts to improve the quality of life for men and women in uniform and their families, we are honored to recognize Lt. General Gwendolyn Bingham at the 2019 Garden Brunch.

Jean and Steve Case are co-hosts of the 2019 White House Correspondents Garden Brunch. Steve is Co-Founder of America Online and Chairman and CEO of Revolution.

The 26th Annual White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch will take place on Saturday, April 27, 2019 in Washington, D.C.

The brunch will be hosted by Tammy Haddad, Hilary Rosen, Jean and Steve Case, Mark and Sally Ein, Jennifer Dunn, Zac Moffatt, Greta Van Susteren & John Coale, Fritz Brogan, and Franco Nuschese. Comedian Jay Leno will be the special guest this year.

Our military heroes have shown us the true meaning of sacrifice, and we will honor veterans during the Garden Brunch with the Champions of Freedom Award and the Be Fearless Award.

Leno, along with Garden Brunch hosts and guests, will honor a deserving veteran who has demonstrated exemplary service to the United States. This recognition will be presented in partnership with Wells Fargo and Military Warriors Support Foundation.

Jean Case, alongside the other hosts, will also present the Garden Brunch Be Fearless Award in recognition of a veteran’s fearless leadership.

There will be a live stream available on Twitter @WHCInsider of guest arrivals starting at 11am ET and the stage program at approximately 12:15 pm ET. Join the conversation on Twitter using #GardenBrunch.

Watch Leno’s performance at the 2010 White House Correspondents Dinner.

About White House Correspondents Insider

Exploring “behind the scenes” of the most powerful reporters and editors in the world, the Washington press corps. We track the White House Correspondents’ weekend and all the activities around it from journalists and media companies to the White House and politicos. Tammy Haddad is Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief of WHC Insider and she hosts the Washington Insider podcast.

White House Correspondents Insider is not affiliated with or approved by the White House Correspondents Association which is a registered trademark of the WHCA.